Averau Targets 2015 Adelaide Cup

After an impressive three and a half length victory in the Listed Bagot Handicap (2800m) at Flemington Racecourse on January 1, five-year-old mare Averau will bypass the Tasmanian Cups in favour of the Group 2 Adelaide Cup (3200m) during the autumn.

Craig Widdison has revealed Averau will target the Adelaide Cup during the autumn instead of the Tasmanian Cups. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.

Both the Group 3 Hobart Cup (2200m) and Group 3 Launceston Cup (2400m) in February were touted as possible autumn starts for the mare but co-trainer Craig Widdison confirmed to Racing Victoria on Wednesday that plans have changed and Averau will now target the 2015 Adelaide Cup at Morphettville Racecourse on March 9.

“I think she will get it,” Widdison said.

“As long as they don’t get any rain over there, it’s probably a nice race for her.”

Averau is in-form following four wins from her past six starts. She was a fast finishing runner-up of the Listed Thoroughbreds Handicap (2635m) at Werribee on December 14 but her career highlight came on New Year’s Day after blitzing the competition in the Bagot Handicap.

The mare worked over from the outside to sit second off the leader before striking the front around the bend. She put two lengths on the competition with 400m to go and just kept rolling to lengthen the winning margin.

She has come through last Thursday’s race really well and is having a freshen-up rather than a spell.

“She hasn’t left a crumb,” Widdison said.

“It would be nice if the Adelaide Cup was in two to three weeks.

“She won’t go to the paddock, she just goes out (in a paddock) during the day and she’s happy doing that.”

A complete autumn preparation has yet to be locked-in for the five-year-old but she will likely run the Listed Moonee Valley Night Cup (2500m) on February 20 to lead-in to the 2015 Adelaide Cup.

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